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- 3.1;. JONES. MACHINE FOR APPLYING HEADS T0 TIN SANS. No. 400,853. Patented AprJZ, 1889 WITNESSES m w'wf (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

E. L. JONES. MACHINE FOR APPLYING HEADS'TO TIN CANS. No. 400,853. 8 Patented Apr. 2. 1889.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWVARD L. JONES, OF DOVER, DELAXVARE.

MACHINE FOR APPLYIN G HEADS TO TIN CANS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent no, 400,85, dated April 2,1889; Application filed November 6, 1888; Serial N0- 290,104. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD L. J ONES, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Dover, in the county of Kent and Stateof aware, have invented certain new and usefu Improvements in Machines for Putting the Trimmings on Tin Cans; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying three sheets of drawings, which form apart of this specification, and in which Figure 1 is a perspective viewof my machine, showing the same ready for work. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, with a canbody in place ready to receive its trimmings. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the machine. Fig. 4: is a perspective view of the under side of a portion of the machine. Fig. 5 is a perspective detail view of one of themovable clamping and adjusting segments, and Fig. 6 is a detail view of the tripping mechanism which operates the movable bottom plate.

Like letters of reference denote corresponding parts in all the figures.

My invention relates to that class of,machines for manufacturing tin cans for packing meats, fruits, vegetables, &c., which are employed for attaching the trimmings i. 6., the top and bottom pieces- 40 the cylindrical can-body; and it consists in the improved construction and combination of parts of a machine of that type, as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying three sheets of drawings, the letter A designates the bench or table upon which the machine is placed. This consists of a bed-plate, B, preferably of circular form, having a central raised collar, 0, into which is fitted the movable circular bottom plate, D, the diameter of which corresponds to that of the trimmings with which the can-body is to be fitted. This plate,which is adapted to slide up and down within the circular flange or collar 0, is provided with a central downwardly-proj ecting rod, E, which passes loosely through an aperture in the bedplate, and also loosely through a registeringcollar, F, at the outer end of an arm, G,which is fastened at right angles upon and moves with another rod, H, the lower end of which has a hole or hook for the attachment of the chain I, whereby in the present instance the machine is operated. The lower end of this chain is fastened to a treadle, J, whereby the machine may be conveniently operated by foot-power; but it is obvious that it may be operated just as well by hand-power, steam, or any other motive power, as may be found most desirable or convenient. The vertical rod I-I passes loosely through a bushing, K, which is screwed into the lower end of a tubular standard, L, that is fastened in and supported upon a raised pillar, M, cast upon the bed-plate, and which also forms a bearing for the lower end of a spiral spring, N, the upper end of which bears against the under side of a sleeve, 0, which is fastened upon rod H by means of a pin or bolt, V, which is inserted transversely through rod H, projecting with its ends laterally through longitudinal slots V in the tubular standard L and fastened with its extreme outer ends in the sleeve 0, so that when this rod H is movedin a downward direction the sleeve 0 will move with 'it, and thereby compress the main spring N, said sleeve 0 sliding upon the standard L. This movable or'sliding sleeve 0 has an arm, P, projecting at right angles and provided at its outer end with a collar, Q, the axis of which coincides with the axis of the bottom rod E, and plate D. Through this collar Q is inserted loosely and adjustably a rod, R, which may be fastened in the collar in itsadjusted position by means of a binding-screw, SI At the lower end of rod R is a universal joint, (or ball-and-socket j0int,) T, connecting it to the automatically-adjustable flanged press- .ure plate or platen U.

It will be seen that the function of the pin or bolt \V, hereinbefore referred to, is three fold-viz: it forms a means of attachment of collar 0 upon the movable rod II; it forms a stop to the upward motion of rod H, (impelled by the spring N and collar 0,) and it prevents said collar from turning upon the tubular slotted standard L, so that rod R will always be in alignment wit-h the bottom rod, E.

The base-plate B is cast with ears X, which form bearings for the arms Y of the pivoted clamping and adjusting segments Z, preferably three in number, which, when placed in juxtaposition to one another, complete the circle. The inner sides of these segments are rounded or beveled, as shown at a, with a straight bottom rim or edge, Z), which slightly overlaps (by the thickness of the metal of which the trimmings are made) the inside of the fixed collar 0. The outer ends of these segments, which impinge upon one another when in position for holding the top or bot tom part of the can on plate D, are notched or recessed, as shown at c in Fig. 5, so as to fitover the guide and steadying pins cl, which are fastened in the upper rim of collar C and adapted to fit into these recesses.

The segments Z are provided with and operated by jointed rods e, which project loosely through holes bored in the bed-plate, and are fastened with their lower ends in the outer ends of the arms of a spider-plate, f, having a central bore, through which rod E is inserted loosely. Under normal conditions, or when the machine is at rest, the segments Z will be in the (open) position illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, for the reason that spring N will have pushed collar 0 and rod 1-1 up to its highestpoint, (limited by the slots V in conjunction 0 with the pin WV) in which position of these parts the collar F at the outer end of arm G will bear against the under side of the spiderplate f around the aperture through which the rod E is loosely inserted, and thus lift 3 5 plate f, and with it the rods 6 and segments Z, at the same time compressing the springs 0, which encircle rods c between the underside of the bed-plate and the upper side of plate f; but when, in operating the machine, rod H is moved in a downward direction, (overcoming the upward pressure of the main spring N,) collar F will also be lowered or withdrawn from the under side of plate f, and pressure from the under side being now relaxed the springs 0 will expand, and by exerting pressure against the upper side of plate f will force this in a downward direction, and with it the jointed rods 6, until further downward motion of plate f is stopped by the segments Z striking with their inner ends the upper rim of collar C. This position of the parts is illustrated in Fig. Upon that part of rod E which plays or works between the fixed bed-plate B and mov- 5 5 able spider-plate f is secured a fiangedcollar, g, the fianget' of which forms an abutment for the lower end of a spiral spring, h, encircling that part of rod E and bearing with its upper end against the under side of plate B, Figs. 3 and 6. This spring operates to force rod E in a downward direction, thereby causing the circular plate D, which is fastened upon the upper end of the rod, to lie fiat upon plate B inside of the collar 0; but when the spiderplate f is raised or lifted by the means hereinbefore described it will strike the under side of collar g, which overlaps the central aperture through which rod E is loosely in serted, Fig. 6, and thereby lift rod E and plate D until the latter is flush or even with the top of collar 0, at the same time compressing spring h; but when the pressure on the under side of collar g is relaxed spring It will force rod E and plate D back into their normal or depressed positions. In order to time this motion of rod E and plate D till the proper moment-2'. 8., after the can-body shall have been forced down into its top or bottom piece (as the case may be)-I employ the trigger or tripping mechanism illustrated in Figs. 3 and t. This device consists of a spring-actuated catch, 7c, beveled or cut oif slanting at its upper free end, and hinged at its lower end between ears or bearings Z on plate f. This catch or trigger has a shoulder, j, on the side facing collar g, and its beveled up per end is in line with a beveled lug or trip, 11, fastened to the under side of plate B. When, during the upward movement of rod E, (impelled by spring N, rod II, arm G, plate f, and collar g,) the flange '1' of said collar g passes the trigger olfset or shoulder f, the trigger, impelled byits spring on, will. slip with its shoulder in under flange 71, in which position (illustrated in Fig. its beveled top will be in line with and impinge upon the beveled trip a. As rod E steadilymoves upward, lifting plate D with it, the trigger 7i: will be forced gradually to one side in the direction of spring on byits beveled top sliding upon the beveled trip a; and by the time plate D has been raised into the plane of the top of collar 0, (carrying with it the can-body and trimming just placed upon it,) the trigger 7.: will strike trip n, which trips it and releases shoulder 7' from under the collar-flange vi, thereby enabling the spring 7b to come into play, by the expansion of which collar 9 and rod E are forced in a downward direction until collar 9 strikes plate f, at which time plate D will have reached plate 13 and lie ii at on top of the same, ready to receive the next can-body and appropriate trimming. At the same time the trigger j springs back to its normal position, ready for the next lifting of rod E, collar g, and plate D.

Having in the foregoing described the construction and combination of parts of my machine, I shall now briefly describe its operation, which is as follows: The machine being at rest and the parts in the position shown in Fig. 1, the top or bottom of the can, (these parts are known technically in can-factories as the trimmings,) as the case may be, is thrown into the circular space formed by the raised segments Z, when it will drop down upon the bottom plate, D, within the collar 0, guided by the beveled or inwardly-sloping rims of the segments. Next, the cylindrical body of the can, the lower rim of which has first been dipped in the usual rosin bath, is placed in the machine, with its lower part between the segments Z, Fig. 2, after which rod ll is forced in a downward direction (by the treadle or other suitable mechanism.) Prior to this, however, rod R has been so gaged or adjusted in its collar Q that as rod H and arm P are depressed the pressure-plate or plate U may reach and exert downward pressure upon the upper rim of the can-body, Fig. 3, whereby the latter is forced, with its lower rim down into the appropriate trimming resting on plate D. During this operation the segments Z have, by the mechanism hereinbefore described, closed around the lower rim of the can-body, as shown in Fig. 3, so as to guide the same true down into the flanged piece of trimming, which is to form the top or bottom of the complete can. The next step is to release the downward pressure on rod H, when'spring N will operate to lift plate U off of the top of the can-body, and at thesame time, through the mechanism hereinbefore described, the segments Z will be released and spring back into their normal position, plate D at the same time moving in an upward direction with the can-body, so as to lift the latter clear of the collar 0 and prevent it from sticking in said collar through the action of the rosin around the lower rim of the can. The spider f and plate D being still moved upward by the arm G, the trigger it" strikes the trip 12. and is Withdrawn from beneath the flange ofcollar g, thereby permitting the plate D to drop back upon the bed-plate B. The can is then removed and the machine is ready for the next one. After the can -bodies have all been bottomed in this manner the heads are put on in precisely the same way, simply by reversing the position of the can-body in the-machine. The universal joint T at the lower end of rod R permits the pressureplate U to adjust itself, so as to exert an even downward pressure upon the upper part of the can, irrespective of any slight irregularities in the upper rim of the can-body.

If desired, a gage or guide may be attached to the bed-plate of the machine, as indicated by dotted lines at G in Fig. 1, which facilitatesthe'placing of the can-body in the machine, so that it shall be in a proper position relative to the upper pressure-plate, U, segments Z, collar 0, and the bottom plate, D.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States 1. The combination of the fixed bed-plate having a central collar and central aperture, the vertically-movable bottom plate having a rod inserted loosely through the aperture in the bed-plate, the spring-actuated hinged segments overlapping the rim of the collar, the spider-plate connected to the free ends of the segments by jointed connecting rods, the springs encircling said rods, the spring and collar upon the rod of the movable bottom plate, and the arm having a sleeve or socket at its outer end through which said rod is loosely inserted and adapted to exert upward pressure on the under side of the spider-plate, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination of the hinged segments, jointed rods secured in and projecting down- Wardly from the free ends of the same, the springs encircling said rods, the bed plate through which said rods are loosely inserted,

the spider-plate in which their lower ends are 1 fastened, and the described mechanism for raising and lowering said plate, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination of the bed-plate having a central collar and central aperture, the movable bottom plate and its downwardlyprojecting rod having a flanged collar, and the described tripping mechanism, whereby the plate is lowered suddenly within the encircling collar of the bed-plate after it has been pushed up flush or even with the top thereof, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. The combination of the tubular slotted standard, the spring encircling the same, the movable rod within said standard, the pin or bolt inserted transversely through the upper end of the inside rod and projecting through the slots in the tubular standard, the collar sliding upon said standard'and fastened to the projecting ends of the transverse bolt or pin, the arm projecting from said collar and having a sleeve at its outer end, the rod inserted adjustably through said sleeve, and

the plate connected to the lower end of said rod by a universal joint, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereunto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDWARD L. JONES.

Witnesses:

J OSEPH MODANIEL, WILLIAM T. MILBOURN. 

